Judges may impact the public regarding the dangers of impaired driving. In addition to the adjudication of individual cases, judges play a role in determining interventions and best practices that can deter impaired driving and reduce recidivism.
The Judicial Outreach Liaison (JOL) program has been established as a part of a cooperative agreement between the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the American Bar Association Judicial Division (ABA), and participating states. The JOL functions as a point of contact between the state judiciary and national organizations like NHTSA and the National Judicial College (NJC) at the University of Nevada-Reno for the exchange of front-line information with the goal of improving traffic safety. This is done by the JOL teaching, writing and consulting concerning the latest research and data addressing impaired driving in their State. The JOL provides training, guidance and court case interpretations to the judiciary and members of the highway traffic safety community.
In Tennessee, the JOL has the advantage of working in conjunction with the University of Tennessee Center for Transportation Research, Tennessee Tech University’s iCube, and the Highway Safety Office of the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security.
Judge Donald Parish serves as the Tennessee JOL. Judge Parish practiced law and served as a part-time municipal judge for 24 years before becoming a Circuit Judge for the 24th Judicial District here in Tennessee. He retired from the bench in September of 2022 and became the JOL for Tennessee on January 1, 2023.
This newsletter is a new initiative designed to focus on topics of interest to Tennessee judges, lawyers and others involved in the litigation of criminal and civil cases with impaired driving issues.
Judge Parish can be reached at donaldparish1@yahoo.com.
Tennessee Judicial Outreach Liaison
Judge Donald E. Parish
Phone: 731-225-6386
Email: donaldparish1@yahoo.com
This project is funded through a grant provided by the Tennessee Highway Safety Office.